Cameron Carter-Vickers’ recent performances for Tottenham Hotspur’s under-18 and under-21 sides have suggested the 17-year-old centre-back is destined for a bright future at White Hart Lane.

Despite his age, the Spurs defender shone first against Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup and then against Radamel Falcao and co. when Tottenham’s under-21s took on their Manchester United counterparts earlier this month.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has benfitted from showing faith in some of the club’s younger players, with Nabil Bentaleb, Ryan Mason, Eric Dier and Harry Kane all excelling this season. But could he really give such a young defender his debut as early as next season?

Only time will tell, but it is fair to say Cameron-Vickers is not like most players his age. After all, at just 16 he was turning out for the USA’s Olympic-eligible under-23 side against Brazil.

In an interview with Americansoccernow.com in October, the US’s under-18 head coach Javier Perez said of the Tottenham youngster,” He’s a special player. We didn’t have any hesitation to bring him in with the under-23s.”

Some players are too good to be ignored; players who excel in age-groups deemed a step too far for most of their peers.

So far, Carter-Vickers is proving to be one of those players, and for that reason, do not be surprised if he does make the step up as early as next season.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. He has worked for HITC for four years and is now Head of Editorial and Journalist Standards.